Washington Capitals News

Chychrun was hurt Tuesday vs. the Rangers, and moving him to IR means that he'll miss at least two more games. The Capitals used the roster spot to call up Vincent Iorio from Hershey (AHL) to have an extra defenseman for their Saturday/Sunday back-to-back.

In a corresponding move, the Capitals placed Jakob Chychrun on injured reserve. Iorio, who appeared in six NHL games last season, has scored one goal with two assists (three points) in nine AHL games this season.

Alexeyev was the 31st overall pick of the Capitals in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and will make his season debut on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens, replacing Jakob Chychrun (upper body). The 24-year-old Alexeyev had three points (1G / 2A) in 39 games with the Capitals last season.

The Capitals are off to an excellent 6-2-0 start to the season and will continue their goalie rotation, turning to Lindgren between the pipes for his fifth start. Lindgren has been serviceable in the crease for the Capitals this season, albeit unspectacular, posting a 2.52 GAA and .895 SV% in four contests (2-2-0). The Capitals enter the action on Thursday as sizeable -197 home favorites against a Montreal Canadiens club with a -12 goal differential this season (4-5-1).

Chychrun exited Tuesday's 5-3 win over the New York Rangers in the first period due to an upper-body injury after only 1:50 time-on-ice. The 26-year-old Chychrun has four points (2G / 2A) and 14 shots through eight games this season. Expect Alexander Alexeyev to replace Chychrun on Thursday if Matt Roy isn't ready to return to the lineup.

The Capitals did not have an update on Chychrun's status post-game but said he would be evaluated on Wednesday. It sounds like the Capitals are expecting Chychrun to miss some time, but expect them to release a timetable on his return in the coming days. Expect Alexander Alexeyev to replace Chychrun on Thursday if Matt Roy isn't ready to return to the lineup.

Hendrix Lapierre will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Sgarbossa to make his season debut. The 32-year-old Sgarbossa, with 90 games of NHL experience, played 25 games with the Capitals last season, scoring seven points (4G / 3A).

For the first time this season, Lapierre will be a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Lapierre had an impact last season, scoring 22 points (8G / 14A) in 51 games, but has been held off the scoresheet in all seven contests so far this season.

In game eight of the regular season, the Capitals will continue their goalie rotation and turn to Thompson between the pipes for the fourth time. Despite a mediocre 3.28 GAA and .884 SV%, Thompson has been serviceable in the crease, leading the Capitals to a victory in each of his starts (3-0-0). The Capitals enter action on Monday as +133 home underdogs against the New York Rangers, owners of an impressive 6-1-1 record.

Roy exited Washington's season opener after playing only 8:39 time-on-ice and has not played since. The 29-year-old Roy signed a six-year contract with the Capitals in the offseason after spending the first six seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Kings.

Sgarbossa has been lighting up the AHL this season, scoring nine points (1G / 8A) in seven games with the Hershey Bears, earning himself a call-up. The 32-year-old, with 90 games of NHL experience, played 25 games with the Capitals last season, scoring seven points (4G / 3A).

Lindgren allowed one goal on 18 shots in the Capitals win in Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Capitals have been alternating between Lindgren and Logan Thompson to being the season, so Lindgren will get the start Saturday in Tampa. He's 2-1-0 with a. 2.36 GAA and .905 SV% through three games.

On the tail end of a back-to-back against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Capitals will switch to Thompson between the pipes. The Capitals were on the victorious side of a 4-1 contest against the Flyers on Tuesday, courtesy of a strong performance from Charlie Lindgren. The 27-year-old Thompson, in the first season of his tenure with the Capitals, has been limited to only two outings thus far (2-0-0), posting a 3.41 GAA and .877 SV%. The Capitals enter the action on Wednesday as -138 home favorites against the Flyers, losers of five in a row (0-4-1).

Five games into the 2024-25 campaign, the Capitals will continue their goalie rotation and switch back to Lindgren between the pipes on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers, losers of four straight (0-3-1). The 30-year-old Lindgren struggled in his first game of the season, allowing four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, but rebounded with a stellar effort in his second outing, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%), shutting the door in a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars.